Low Fatigue Rewindable Optical Fiber Cable Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber cables lack the ability to withstand repeated winding and unwinding operations, leading to mechanical degradation and fatigue failure, which limits their reuse in restoring optical connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A low fatigue rewindable optical fiber cable design featuring a core with optical transmission elements, surrounded by dielectric armouring and a sheath, with an optimized fatigue performance ratio (FPR) of 3 to 4.5, enabling at least 10 cyclic winds and unwinds without significant mechanical degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional unitube optical fiber cable with dielectric armouring is used, then the cable provides basic optical transmission capability, but it has low fatigue resistance and limited rewinding capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a sheath made of thermoplastic material with dielectric armouring elements (such as FRP or aramid rods) arranged in a helical pattern. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for repeated winding/unwinding operations and the mechanical strength to withstand fatigue stresses, resolving the contradiction between fatigue resistance and rewinding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the cable by optimizing the helical angle of the dielectric armouring elements and adjusting the thickness and material properties of the sheath. These parameter modifications enable the cable to withstand repeated cyclic stresses from winding and unwinding operations while maintaining structural integrity, thereby improving both fatigue resistance and rewinding capability.
2Productivity
If the optical fiber cable is used multiple times for restoring optical connectivity, then network downtime is reduced, but mechanical degradation occurs in the sheath and cable elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by designing the cable structure with a flexible sheath and helically arranged dielectric armouring that anticipates and absorbs the stresses of repeated winding and unwinding operations. This preemptive structural design prevents mechanical degradation before it occurs, enabling multiple uses of the cable for network restoration without compromising reliability.
3Ease of repair
If repeated winding and unwinding operations are performed, then the replacement optical fiber cable can be reused, but internal stresses are generated that degrade cable material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the cable with flexible components that can dynamically adapt to the stresses induced by winding and unwinding operations. The helical dielectric armouring and flexible sheath work together to absorb and distribute cyclic stresses, preventing stress concentration and material degradation, thereby enabling reusable replacement cables.
Data Source
AI summary
A low fatigue rewindable optical fiber cable comprises a core having at least one optical transmission element, a dielectric armouring surrounding the core and a sheath surrounding the dielectric armouring. Particularly, the low fatigue rewindable optical fiber cable is characterized by a fatigue performance ratio (FPR) which is a ratio of a cross sectional area of the sheath and a cross sectional area of the dielectric armouring and is between 3 to 4.5 that enables at least 10 cyclic winds and unwinds carried out on a drum with a diameter of 40 times an outer diameter of the low fatigue rewindable optical fiber cable.